JFF...Were/Are Your Baby Boys More Attached to You than Your Girls?

Opposite here but it is just the situation that is different. I had to work when my son was little so we weren't that "close". He wasn't and still isn't a lovey, snuggly person. My daughter is 4 and I've been home with her since day 1. She is a mamas girl big time! We have never been apart not even for a night so yep we are very close. Now that my son is older we are close but I always tell my daughter, I have never known anyone in my life that wants to be as close to me as she does!

I think the fact that he is your youngest plays into it!

My older son rotated btwn mama/daddy boy....for bedtime only. He was super independent & all over the house by the time he was crawling at 6 months. Seriously, all over!

My younger son hated being held! OMG, just trying to rock him to sleep was a challenge. As early as 2-3 months, he was pushing away! By 9 months, he was not even interested in snuggling ....other than for fun. Putting himself to sleep...easily & completely stress-free by 11 months! & he was a lover & a kisser...he'd hit with a kiss & move on like a rocket....

For both sons, I can honestly say that clinging was not an issue. Stranger anxiety did not exist. If anything, we had to teach them to "filter, filter, filter"!

With my daycare kids, I cannot tell you how many times I've been told that "Oh, I can't even vacuum without carrying my baby"...."my baby will not sleep without me".....& many other variations! Nope, sorry, not an issue here. & I don't want you to think that I am slamming you...simply pointing out that different environments create different reactions! It's all in the approach, the attitude, & the rules of engagement!

& back to your son, while you are loving it, I would try to diffuse his need/dependency on you. Please find a way for him to embrace his surroundings without needing the comfort of your touch. Help prepare him for a day when you are not home....help him prepare for someone else caring for him. Anything can happen - whether it be a day of dr visits or jury duty :).... by learning to self-soothe, he will be able to cope with life's issues easier. You can still have your snuggle time, but it means so much more when you know your child has the ability to be independent & he chooses you! Peace.....

My boy and girl are completely different personalities, but yes... I think my son would crawl back inside if he could. I never had his attachment to me be as much as you describe, but he was definitely the one who wanted to be snuggled, rocked, and I could wear in a sling all day long. My daughter wanted to be on the floor playing, doing, going. So sweet that you enjoy your kids so much :) They grow so fast and those snuggly moments get fewer and farther between.

My daughter is the oldest. She never was much of a cuddler. She came out saying "me do!" I swear.

My son? He is a big baby that wants mommy for the silliest things. I am currently going "cold-hearted" on him and trying to teach him to stop crying over spilled milk.

He doesn't sleep with me, and I don't carry him around (he will be 2 in Dec). He is actually my terrific sleeper. But he does love to cling to me in a way his sister never did. His reactions to the world have always been harsher. The first time I heard him scream in pain I thought he was dying.

At 7 months, you really should start doing some sleep training unless you want your baby in bed with you you till he's 3 or 4 or 5.

p.s. sleep training does not necessarily mean CIO, it just means teaching a baby how to sleep without mommy or daddy.

My DD is 6 and my DS is 17 months. I can only tell you that my DS is way more cuddly than his sister so far.
BUT...my DD is a sleep cuddler-she can't get close enough, and my DS is happy to have his space. Though he still likes to be near me.

I think it's Youngest Child Syndrome (I made that up).

My youngest is always the attention seeker, whinier, etc. I don't think it's a gender thing, it's a birth order thing.

My boy is a mammas boy, my girls are daddys girls. My boy will always want to be cuddled, sleep next to me, sit next to me, cry for me. My girls just light up for daddy.
But my boy is a wild one playing and not looking back and my girls hid behind my legs.

Im working on my first boy right now, i have two girls also. I have heard that about boys. Looking forward to it.

I am starting to think it is just a personality thing. I have four, two boys, two girls and here is how they are panning out:

Boy #1 - totally mama's boy - didn't like anyone but me (even daddy). I could never put him down. Still a mama's boy today he is 11.

Boy #2 - I still think he didn't even like me when he was a baby. Always favored daddy. Never was clingy. Very independent. Overly friendly to everyone. He is 5.

Girl #1 - She is a mama's girl - likes daddy but still favors mama. Very friendly and out there but still needs to know I am near by. She is 3

Girl #2 - Daddy's girl all the way - loves mama but could do without me until she wanted some booby. She is very independent, very quiet, and super happy. She is 9 mo.

In short, I have learned that the mama's boy and daddy's girl happens but I am not sure it is the rule. I think as parents we follow that thought process more than they do. = )

Enjoy!

I don't think gender has anything to do with it. My kids, boys and girls, have a range of affection that corresponds with their personalities and who they like to be with the most, which isn't always a parent. My oldest son's favorite family member is clearly his baby sister.

I have boy/girl twins.(they are 14months) My son is very attached to me and has been since the day he was born. He only wants mommy 99% of the time. He is the poster child for being a mama's boy. What Julie K. said is my son, if he could he would find a way in so that he could always be attached to me. My daughter on the other hand either wants to be left alone or wants her daddy.

In my house, we definitely follow the stereotype, but I suspect that it is more about personality than gender. My boy was happiest as a baby if he was actually physically touching me, preferably facing me, whereas my daughter was happy when she could face outward, and happier still when she got her feet under her and was able to take off. My son, now 7, is still much more attached to me, and to his family. His sister, on the other hand, is oriented toward the wider world. She is a quintessential extrovert - she draws her energy from other people, loves being in a crowd, loves to perform. My son would be quite content not to venture far from his home and his people.

I also have 2 girls and a boy. My son is the middle child and he is a HUGE mama's boy even at the age of 7. When I sit down to watch TV with them in the evening, he still wants to lay in my lap. It drives my nuts most of the time..lol! But I have to remind myself that my days are probably numbered and before long, he's not going to want anything to with me.

Hi--
There was an actual study done that showed that little boys are actually more emotional and less independent then little girls. However society says they "should" be the opposite. The study (which I found in my husband's Men's health magazine) was talking about this being the reason why depression in men manifests differently than in women. They are taught not to cry, not to show emotion, and to always be tough when they are naturally the opposite. How confusing for them!!! I have found with both my boys that answering those needs actually makes them more independent in the long run because they feel secure in their world. It's basically the concept of attachment parenting (you can google it---Dr. Sears is a big proponent of this type of parenting). I say enjoy it while you can :-)
J.